Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82930 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
“Drink?”
“Tea, please. I’ve already had more coffee and my nerves are a little jittery.”
Petal laughed, and she made a drink for the two of them. Rather than drink it in the kitchen, they walked into the living room, sat down, and talked. She heard more about her father’s promotion, how Betty, one of her sisters, had gotten a credit at school. George finally took the phone call from his parents and promised to visit them when he was on leave.
It was good to catch up, and when her mother looked at her watch, she clicked her tongue. “I’ve got to go,” her mother said.
Petal took the mug from her, got to her feet, and followed her to the front door.
“Don’t be a stranger, and you know what I’m thinking?” her mother asked.
“Not a clue,” Petal said with a smile.
“You and I should do lunch some time, or maybe the family will come to that new diner of yours.”
Petal’s smile widened. “I’d like that.”
Her mother hugged her tightly. “Love you, Flower,” her mother said.
Petal felt tears fill her eyes. Her mother hadn’t called her that in a long time.
“I love you, Mom,” she said.
Opening the door, Petal came face to face with Rosalie. She looked at her best friend, whose eyes went wide when she saw Petal’s mother.
“Mrs. Hargreaves,” Rosalie said.
“Please call me Petal, Sweetheart. I am so sorry to hear about your mother. George and I both were.”
“Thank you,” Rosalie said.
Petal watched as her mother and Rosalie embraced.
“We should all catch up soon, but I must get off. I’ve got work to do.” Her mother winked at her, and Petal smiled.
“Your mother visited?” Rosalie asked.
At the sight of her best friend, her anger at Dirty came forward.
“Yeah, it would seem my dad finally got that promotion he’d been chasing, and Dirty paid my parents a visit and gave them a reality check or something.”
Rosalie had stepped into the house, and Petal carried the used mugs to the kitchen. She knew her friend would come. Petal hoped to go to Rosalie, but between Myth’s visit and her mother’s, there was no chance of that happening now.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rosalie asked.
She should have known Rosalie would just get right into it. No holding back. They had been doing this their entire lives. Admittedly, over more stupid things, like one of them not understanding math, or a textbook. They agreed to not keep anything between them, and Petal knew she had fucked up, broken their sister code by not telling her best friend the truth.
With the mugs clean, she grabbed a towel and turned back toward her friend. Rosalie looked so heartbroken.
“In all honesty, I don’t know why I didn’t tell you.” She shrugged. “With everything going on, you didn’t need to know what happened.”
“Petal, you’re my best friend, and from what I hear, that wasn’t little. You had a relationship with Dirty, and not only that, you were pregnant.”
She held her hand up. “No, I didn’t have a relationship with Dirty. We were … having sex. That was all it was.”
“Cut the bullshit. This is not your mom or some stranger you’re talking to. This is me, your best friend, and I know you. Regardless of what you’re saying, you wouldn’t have been with Dirty if you didn’t feel something.”
“What I felt wasn’t the point. He didn’t feel it, Rose. I did. That’s why I didn’t say anything. He was done with me. Through. He didn’t want to be with me.” She didn’t want to keep talking because she knew she was going to cry, and crying was the last thing she wanted to do. She’d cried too many tears already.
After what Dirty did last night, she didn’t want anything to do with him. Not a damn thing. She hated him more than anything.
“Talk to me,” Rosalie said. “You got pregnant.”
“And I lost it. Don’t you get that? I lost it when I was shot.”
Rosalie put her hand against her mouth. “Oh my God, I am so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“They were supposed to get me and Colt. Not you, not my mom. Me and Colt.”
“Stop,” Petal said. “I don’t wish they got you that day, Rose. I swear.” She went to her friend. “You are my best friend. I love you, and I would do anything for you.” She pulled her close and didn’t want to let her go.
****
Dirty groaned and rubbed his eyes, and the world was spinning. It had been a long time since he drank like that, and he felt the sickness swirling in his gut. He was close to vomiting. But he didn’t. He somehow kept that inside.
Then he felt the water splash on his face and any idea he had about waking up slowly vanished, as his mattress was also pushed out from under him and he ended up in a heap on the floor. It was then he realized Colt and Myth were in his bedroom.